Here’s Why Billie Eilish’s Romance Is Causing *Quite* the Controversy
ICYMI, Billie Eilish seems to be dating someone new after her split from Matthew Tyler Vorce last May—and just in time for (corny joke incoming in 3, 2, 1…) peak sweater weather, no less. Yes, the famous songstress is reportedly dating The Neighbourhood frontman Jesse Rutherford after being spotted out holding hands and kissing, so of course inquiring minds (hi, me) want to know absolutely everything there is to know about him. Let’s get into it, shall we?
First things first: Jesse is a fellow musician
He’s got a lot going on in the music world. I mean, he’s the lead singer of The Neighbourhood, aka the rock band famously behind the megahit “Sweater Weather.” And if you *don’t* happen to remember the moody rock banger that continuously played on the radio for, like, all of 2013, let me remind you:
Interestingly enough, the band has been on a hiatus since February 2022, per Variety. At the time, the publication cited “multiple sources” who said the band would continue to cancel its upcoming live shows, just as Jesse began teasing solo material on TikTok.
The move isn’t the most shocking though, because in 2017, Jesse released his first debut album, titled &. Just two years later, he officially began releasing music under the name “Jesse” and even announced his second solo album, GarageB&, per Genius. At the time, the celeb was also featured on Benny Blanco’s Friends Keep Secrets album alongside fellow artists like Halsey and Khalid, so he’s been doing his own thing for a while now.
He and Billie have been hanging out a lot recently
In late October 2022, they were spotted enjoying dinner together at vegan restaurant Crossroads Kitchen in Los Angeles and a few days later were seen kissing in front of Lal Mirch. Also, TikTok user @GhoulishJen posted a vid of Billie and Jesse heading out of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios while holding hands that fall.
There are also pics of Billie hanging out with Jesse back in August 2022, so maybe this relatively “new” romance isn’t as new as the public thinks. In-ter-est-ing!
Jesse is also an actor
He was born in Newbury Park, California, and being close to Hollywood made it that much easier for him to take advantage of entertainment opportunities, per All Music. Case in point? Jesse was already booking roles in movies by the age of 10 (!!).
After landing a few commercials and television gigs, Jesse managed to book a supporting role in the 2002 film Life or Something Like It alongside *the* Angelina Jolie. He was also cast in the movie Ted Bundy and appeared on an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, per his IMDb.
He previously dated Devon Lee Carlson
Jesse and Devon dated for six years before breakup rumors circulated in November 2021 after Devon removed “Jesse’s girlfriend” from her TikTok bio and deleted multiple Instagram posts with him.
Interestingly enough, the split was never actually publicly addressed by either one of them until Devon made a Call Her Daddy appearance in September 2022. During the episode, she mentioned she had been in a public relationship for “a very long time,” without naming Jesse explicitly. “We had the most mutual breakup ever,” she said of the decision.
Billie is “really happy” about the ’ship
In a November 2022 video for Vanity Fair, Billie finally went on the record about her romance with Jesse. “It’s really cool and I’m really excited and I’m really happy about it,” she said before adding, “I managed to get…my life to a point where I not only was known by a person that I thought was the hottest f*cking f*cker alive but pulled his ass! Are you kidding me? Can we just [get a] round of applause for me?”
Later on in the interview, the singer mused about her love language (physical touch, in case you were wondering!) and added that it’s important to her that she’s trusted in her relationships and, moreover, that she wants “love and attention. Equal admiration is really important. I just am really inspired by this person, and he’s inspired by me. It’s really cool.”
Fans are kiiind of concerned about Billie and Jesse’s age gap
After the TikTok video of Billie and Jesse at Horror Nights went viral on the app, fans became divided over the pairing, considering the “Bad Guy” singer is 21 years old and the Neighbourhood front man is a full decade older at 31.
i’m actually losing my mind over this billie eilish and jesse rutherford news this is me rn pic.twitter.com/wBMDG6e5Ej
— Nikki Nasty (@nicolerafiee) October 15, 2022
JESSE RUTHERFORD AND BILLIE EILISH ??? pic.twitter.com/XO0YJ8LGpe
— slime ¡ (@auntycustard) October 13, 2022
jesse rutherford dating billie eilish at his big ass age....... every indie guy really is a weirdo like every single one
— kada (@bluehoodiebaby) October 15, 2022
Not long after the video was posted, a December 2017 photo from a fan account resurfaced, seemingly showing a then-26-year-old Jesse hanging out with Billie when she was only 15 years old, suggesting the two have known each other since Billie was a minor.
— jesse rutherford pic (@jrutherfordpics) December 19, 2017
The new intel prompted many to have some, erm, choice words for Jesse:
jesse rutherford knowing billie eilish since she was 15 and then going and dating her is fucking weird!
— dom (@M4RGOTROBBIES) October 15, 2022
Jesse Rutherford is too old for Billie Eilish and it is made worse by the fact that he met her when she was barely 16. The Neighbourhood is one of my favorite bands but it looks like I’m about to stop listening to them. I’m so devastated. I hope Billie knows what she’s doing :(
— Sam (she/they) (@blue_sey) October 15, 2022
Billie Eilish once again dating a man MUCH older than her and it’s JESSE RUTHERFORD FROM THE NEIGHBOURHOOD? AND HE’S APPARENTLY KNOWN HER SINCE SHE WAS 15?? BILLIE THIS ISNT YOU pic.twitter.com/ELqZOpUAJx
— ichigo’s gay cousin (@whowasyariel) October 15, 2022
However, rather than be dissuaded by all the comments on their age gap…
They went public on Instagram on Halloween 2022
And they totally poked fun at the sitch. I mean, just look at the last pic in the carousel where Billie is dressed as a baby while Jesse appears as an old man. “Life is craaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy 🤡 happy Halloween 🎃🥰,” the Grammy Award winner captioned the post.
Billie and Jesse made their red carpet debut in November 2022
Dressed up in matching Gucci pajama sets, the couple made their event debut on November 5, 2022, at the 11th Annual LACMA Art + Film Gala.
They love a matching ’fit ~moment~
As is evidenced by those Gucci numbers, yes, but also their festive getup for Billie’s 21st birthday party in December 2022.
Aaand that’s pretty much all we know for now, but def make sure to check back in for any more deets on Jesse and Billie’s ’ship!
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